ND Practice Permit Test

North Dakota’s Minor Driver Licensing Law requires teens to earn their full driver’s license in stages. Here are the age requirements of each stage:

• 14 years old – Learner’s Permit
• 15 years old – Minor’s Restricted Driver’s License
• 16 years old – Unrestricted Driver’s License

You should bring:

• Proof of name, legal presence and birth date – here are acceptable documents
• Social Security Number
• Application form signed by parent or legal guardian
• $15 for Learner’s Permit Fee and $5 for written test fee

You should file your application at a local office of the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT).

Call 701-328-2600 or visit https://www.dot.nd.gov/public/contacts.htm for office locations and contact information.

Teens in North Dakota are required to complete a driver’s education course, as well as supervised driving practice, before receiving their Restricted Driver’s License.

Teens who move to North Dakota must transfer their out-of-state license within 60 days. To transfer your license, visit an NDDOT office and bring identification and $15 for the license fee.

In North Dakota, the written test includes questions on traffic laws, road signs and safe driving procedures. The questions are taken from the state Driver’s Manual. Here are two examples of content from the manual that could be tested for on the written exam:

• Slow-moving vehicle signs are shaped like a triangle. They are orange with a red, reflective border
• Never back up on an interstate entrance ramp. If you exit at the wrong interchange, you must follow it out. Return to the highway by the “on” ramp.

The North Dakota written test is a multiple choice test.

No, there are no trick questions. The questions all cover content from the state Driver’s Manual and are meant solely to assess your knowledge of traffic laws and safe driving tactics not to “trick” you into giving a wrong answer.

There are 25 questions on the test and you must answer at least 20 of them correctly to pass.

You should study the North Dakota Driver’s Manual thoroughly. You can also take practice tests online to identify your strengths and weaknesses so that you can devote more of your study time to the areas where you need it most.

We offer free North Dakota Driver’s Manuals.

Read the Driver’s Manual several times and try to memorize numerical data such as measurements, distances and lengths. Also, pay attention to speed limits and driving under the influence of alcohol information as these areas also appear frequently on the test. To better familiarize yourself with what is on the test, take a practice test.

Read over the driver’s manual one more time and take a practice test to ensure you are ready to pass. Then be sure to “hit the hay” early so that you are refreshed and ready to take the test the following day.

Appointments are not required for the written test, however making one could save you time and frustration. Contact your local NDDOT office to see if appointments are accepted.

You will take the test at a local NDDOT office.

• Proof of name, legal presence and birth date – here are acceptable documents
• Social Security Number
• Application form signed by parent or legal guardian
• $15 for Learner’s Permit Fee and $5 for written test fee

You should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Yes, you will need to pay a $15 fee permit fee and a $5 written test fee.

The test will contain 25 questions covering traffic laws, road signs and safe driving tactics. You will need to answer at least 20 of them correctly to pass. You cannot refer to the Driver’s Manual or any notes when taking the test. Also please note, to take the test you need to arrive in the morning at least one hour prior to noon at an office that closes for lunch or in the afternoon at least one hour prior to closing. To familiarize yourself with the test, take a practice test.

You will receive your Learner’s Permit and will now need to complete a driver’s education course and, if you are under 16, you will need to log 50 hours of supervised driving practice.

You can retake the test.

You can retake the test as soon as the next business day; however, you may want to take some time to further study the Drivers’ Manual before retaking the test.

You can now enroll in driver’s education, which will consist of 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. If you are under 16, you will also need to complete 50 hours of supervised driving practice.

You can apply for a restricted license: when you are 15, when you have completed driver’s ed; when you have completed 50 hours of supervised driving practice; and when you have held your Learner’s Permit for one year if you are 14-15 years old or until you turn 16 (must be at least six months that you had your Learner’s Permit).

Yes, you can drive on any North Dakota public road or street; however, you must be accompanied by a licensed supervising driver.

Experts recommend that you also practice driving at night to get used to the different conditions.

You must be accompanied by a licensed driver.

To replace a lost or stolen permit, visit your local NDDOT office with proper identification.

The best ways to prepare for the driving test is to get lots of actual behind-the-wheel practice and to study the content of the state Driver’s Manual. To ace the test, you will need to know how to perform common maneuvers such as turning, parking and stopping as well as how to drive safely in traffic using good defensive driving skills like checking mirrors and following at a safe distance.

To prepare for the driving test, you should practice turns, including three-point turns; quick stops; parking; accelerating; driving straight and smoothly; safe driving techniques and more.

Practice maneuvers that you will be required to perform on the test, such as parking, completing a three-point turn, making a quick stop and accelerating. You should also practice driving in traffic, where you need to be able to check your mirrors, obey traffic signs and be observant of both surrounding traffic and pedestrians.

Driving tests must be scheduled. Contact your local NDDOT office for information.

You will take the test a local NDDOT office. Please note, the road test may be waived by presenting a North Dakota Driving School Certificate of Course Completion certifying you have completed a minimum of 30 hours of classroom driver training and a minimum of six hours of actual behind the wheel driver training that has been approved for waiver purposes by the director of the North Dakota Department of Transportation.

• Learner’s Permit
• Driver’s ed completion certificate
• Proof of 50 hours of supervised driving practice
• A well-maintained vehicle
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of insurance

A licensed parent or legal guardian should bring you.

You will be asked to complete a series of vehicle maneuvers, such as parking, stopping, changing lanes, backing up and more. You will also be asked to drive in traffic where you will need to display good defensive driving skills.

Common reasons for failure include lack of practice, nerves and distracted driving. You may also fail due to making too many minor mistakes that add up or by getting involved in an accident.

• Driving with poor posture and hand position
• Not making a three-point turn within the designated area
• Going over the speed limit
• Failing to obey a road sign
• Driving recklessly

You will be allowed to retake the test.

You cannot take the test the same day but you can take it at the next available appointment time. The examiner will explain why you failed and give you some tips for what to do to ensure you pass the next time.

You will receive your Restricted Driver’s License.

Your restricted license allows you to drive unsupervised at any time except from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Exceptions to this rule are made for work, school or religious purposes.

ND insurance law requires drivers carry auto insurance and that each driver’s insurance company is responsible for paying for the damages of the insured.

Minimum coverage requirements in North Dakota are: bodily injury liability – $25,000/$50,000; property damage liability – $25,000; uninsured/underinsured bodily injury – $25,000/$50,000; and personal injury protection – $30,000.

You may renew your Class D or standard driver’s license up to 10 months before it expires, which is typically on your birthday. You will receive a renewal notice in the mail prior to the expiration date.

To replace a lost or stolen license, visit your local NDDOT office with proper identification. You will also need to pay an $8 fee.

You must renew your North Carolina license in person at an NDDOT office.

Yes, when renewing in person you will need to take a vision test.

The purpose of the vision test in North Dakota is to ensure drivers are able to safely operate a motor vehicle. North Dakota’s vision standard is 20/40 without any corrective lenses to obtain an unrestricted license. If the combined vision is 20/50 or less, you may be referred to a licensed vision specialist.